Projecting device for games



DEC. 17, 1940. R. STEARNS 2,225,241

PROJECTING DEVICE FOR GAMES Original Filed Sept. 27, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFECE PROJECTING DEVICE FOR GAIMES Freeman R. Stearns, Ludington, Mich., assignor to The Carrom Company, Ludington, Mich.

Original application September 27, 1937, Serial No. 165,878. Divided and this application December 19, 1938, Serial No. 246,682

3 Claims. (01. 273129) This invention relates to improvements in provice, capable of projecting a missile at various jecting devices for games. velocities, is desired, and hence I do not desire The main objects of my invention are: to be unnecessarily limited in this respect.

First, to provide a projecting device for casting Referring to the drawing, the reference nu- 5 a projectile or sliding piece or ring employed in meral I indicates a game board of any type 5 playing certain games, which is very efiicient. whereon the projecting device of my invention,

Second, to provide a projecting device of the generally designated 2, is rested for sliding movetype described which is so constructed as to exment as desired by the player. This device conpel rings or other missiles, at the same time resists of a block suitably shaped for ready graspstraining the same from movement in any direcing in the hand of a player, as illustrated in Fig. tion other than a desired one and in sliding 1, and preferably of oval form. The block is merelation to the surface of a game board. dially slotted at 3 to provide an elongated chan- Third, to provide a projecting device of the nel 4 on the side thereof adjacent the board type described which is compact and capable of when the device is in operative position during projecting a missile or other playing piece at conplay. The said channel is overhung on the up- 15 siderable velocity and with considerable force. per side of the block by elongated shoulders 5 Further objects relating to details and econoserving to horizontally guide the players finger mies of my invention will definitely appear from which is inserted in the hole of the missile 6, to the description to follow. The invention is deprevent upward movement of the missile during fined in the claims. retraction into and projection from the chan- 20 A structure embodying the features of my innel. The slot or channel 4 forms a laterally vention is illustrated in the accompanying drawguiding path along which the missile is projected ing, wherein: outwardly.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pro- The force producing this projection is furjecting or throwing device in accordance with my nished by a rubber band or similar resilient ele- 25 invention and the manner of using the said dement 1 surrounding the block below the shoulvice. ders 5 and disposed in a peripheral channel or Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device of my recess 8, to thereby prevent displacement of eleinvention, the inoperative position of the proment 1 and insure that it engages the missile at jecting element thereof being illustrated in solid the center thereof. The shoulders 5 are continlines and the operative position with a missile ued outwardly at 9 beyond the channel 4 to overassociated therewith being illustrated in dotted hang the path of the missile and prevent upward lines. movement thereof even should the rubber ele- Fig. 3 is a View in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, ment be improperly applied thereto. The slot or a playing surface being likewise illustrated frag- Channel 4 is made ufi t y lon So that the 35 mentarily in section. player is afiorded an opportunity toshoot the Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a missile or ring missiles at any desired speed dependent upon the such as is used in playing a game for which my distance to which the missile is retracted in the device is designed. channel, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

0 This application is a division of my copend- Althoug any type Of ss e y be employed, ing application, Serial No. 165,878, filed Septemit will be appreciated that the annular form of her 27, 1937, for Game boards and apparatus for the missile illustrated considerably facilitates the use therewith. use of the projecting device by permitting the The aforesaid copending application relates to p y to sert S fin er n the missile to rea baseball game board embodying a field marked tract the same against the band. The manner of 45 out in a manner to simulate play occurring in using the device is illustrated in Fig. 1. After rebaseball and wherein a pivoted batting device is traction in the channel agai st e p j c e employed. Due to the particular nature of the force of the rubber band, the missile is released batting device illustrated therein, there is a need and is rapidly projected outwardly from the for a device to project a missile against the batchannel in sliding relation to the surface of 50 ting device at considerable velocity and from difboard I.

ferent angles and the present projecting device I have illustrated and described my improvewas particularly devised for this ptupose; howments in an embodiment which is very practical.

ever, it has utility in connection with the play- I have not attempted to illustrate or describe ing of any game wherein a mobile projecting deother embodiments or adaptations as it is be- 5 lieved this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A projecting device comprising a substantially oval block having a central slot therein, the full width of the slot opening to the lower side of the block whereby a missile slidable on a. supporting surface or board for the block may be retracted on the board,in the slot, said block having shoulders overhanging the slot on its upper side to guide a missile projected therefrom, and a continuous flexible rubber member surrounding the block and extending across the mouth of the slot, said member being stretched by insertion of a missile in said slot in opposition to the tension of the member and serving to project the missile from the slot when the same is released.

2. A projecting device comprising a block having a slot therein opening to the lower side of the block whereby a missile slidable on a supporting surface or board for the block may be slidably retracted on said board in said slot, said block having shoulders overhanging the slot to guide a missile projecting therefrom, and a continuous flexible rubber member surrounding the block and extending across the mouth of the slot, said member being stretched by insertion of a missile in said slot in opposition to the tension of the member and serving to project the missile from the slot when the same is released, said block having a peripheral groove in which said member is seated.

3. A projecting device comprising a block having a slot therein, said slot opening to one side of the block whereby a missile slidable on a supporting surface may be slidably retracted on the surface in the slot, a continuous flexible rubber member surrounding the block, said member being stretched by'insertion of a missile in said slot in opposition to the tension of the member and serving to project the missile from the slot when the same is released, said block having a peripheral groove in which said member is seated.

FREEMAN R. STEARNS. 

